Tag Archives: leadership

Don’t Avoid Your Nonprofit’s Problems

Imagine this scenario:  You are catching up on Facebook one night when you see a post from a friend.  Someone you both know has been diagnosed with a horrible disease and given little hope for recovery.  You find out later … Continue reading

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Difficult People on Your Nonprofit Board

Difficult people.  Whether it be a co-worker, a neighbor, or even that very special “in-law”, we all have them in our lives.  Chances are, you will have one serving on your nonprofit’s board of directors…if not now, eventually.  Sort of … Continue reading

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When The Going Gets Tough

We all have our moments of discouragement.  There are times when we are getting beaten up so badly that we would rather throw in the towel than continue to get pummeled.  This situation can occur in just about any area … Continue reading

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Avoiding 501(c)(3) Founder’s Syndrome

Founder’s syndrome.  It affects nonprofits and for-profits alike.  And it can be crippling to any organization.  Understanding what it is and how to avoid it is crucial to the future of your 501(c)(3). Taken from that most-reputable of sources, Wikipedia, … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Managing a Nonprofit, Starting a nonprofit | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Strategic Thinking For Your Nonprofit’s Year-End

2009 is rapidly coming to a close.  And once again, we find ourselves amazed at how fast the year has gone by.  Funny how we have this conversation every year, but we act like it’s the first time it went … Continue reading

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Six Ways to Really Scare Away Your Donors

Halloween is upon us…and there is no more appropriate topic that we could cover than how to effectively scare away donors.  In the, um, spirit of the season, let’s look at six ways to guarantee donors will want nothing to … Continue reading

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Conflict Within Your Nonprofit – Handle With Care

The honeymoon is over.  It seems like yesterday that everyone was full of passion, vision and warm fuzzies.  You were going to save the world and nothing could stand in your way.  Now, passions have cooled, visions have diverged and … Continue reading

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Nonprofit Board Members – Choose Wisely

No decision you make regarding your nonprofit organization carries more importance than who is chosen to lead it.  The members of your board of directors make up the governing body of your nonprofit and are legally accountable for its actions.  … Continue reading

Posted in Education, Managing a Nonprofit, Starting a nonprofit | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments

Bad Seeds – Why the ACORN Scandal Matters to Other Nonprofits

The Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, aka ACORN, was, until the past year, a relatively unknown organization to most Americans.  Founded in 1970 and based in New Orleans, Louisiana, ACORN’s most visible face is that of a 501(c)(3) … Continue reading

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The Challenges of Expanding Your Nonprofit

One of the most challenging situations your nonprofit organization can face is the need to expand.  It is also an exciting challenge.  Compared with the alternative of diminishing effectiveness and shrinking support, growth is a good thing.  At least it … Continue reading

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Safeguard Your Mission: How to Protect Your Nonprofit from Fraud

Fraud is a word that conjures up many images in your mind.  Maybe your definition of fraud is someone lying to you, stealing from you or conspiring against you while pretending to help you.  All of these are true…and it … Continue reading

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Who Really Owns a Nonprofit?

The concept of who owns a nonprofit organization can be hard for some to grasp, especially given that the answer is, “No one…and everyone!”  We encounter this confusion with new clients on a fairly regular basis.  And, given people’s understanding of … Continue reading

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The Dirty (Half) Dozen Nonprofit No-Nos

Occasionally, you have to protect people from themselves.  Even those with the best of intentions can mess things up so badly that it can jeopardize what they are trying to accomplish.  In the nonprofit world, there are best practices, good … Continue reading

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How to Protect Your Nonprofit’s Board Members

Your board of directors is one of the most important assets your nonprofit has.  Assuming they understand their role and are there for the right reasons, your board members provide invaluable insight, direction and oversight.  They volunteer their time and … Continue reading

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10 Business Essentials for Nonprofits

It often seems that when otherwise business-savvy individuals become involved in a nonprofit organization, they set aside all they ever learned in business and proceed to operate their nonprofit as if business rules do not matter.  As most soon find … Continue reading

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